Oil field of the future is digital -- and it's already here
HOUSTON (AP) -- Larry McCuan, a well analyst for Occidental Petroleum Corp., was at home in Bakersfield, Calif., Christmas Eve when a technician from the Elk Hills oilfield 22 miles away reported a pressure drop that threatened wells producing 7,500 barrels a day.

Some toymakers aim to stand firm against Wal-Mart
NEW YORK -- Led by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., discount retailers won a war with other toy stores this past holiday season. Now toymakers, a casualty in that bitter fight, have decided to make their own stand.

Getting a loan means laying some groundwork
NEW YORK -- Small-business owners wanting to borrow money from a bank or other lender should expect to lay some groundwork long before making a phone call or filling out an application.

Absinthe: Part II
Romantic, dangerous, evocative of the 19th century Parisian underworld. Absinthe, that hallucinatory tonic that mesmerized Van Gogh and Baudelaire and was outlawed in much of Europe and the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, might be making a comeback in St. Augustine and elsewhere, albeit in a slightly different form.

Buisness briefs
"Smart Women Finish Rich," a workshop based on the book by David Bach, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 2, at the Casa Monica Hotel, downtown St. Augustine. Call 794-4441 to reserve a seat and for information.

Wedding: King-Eldridge
Anastasia Baptist Church was the setting at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 24 for the marriage of Jessica Jane King and Sonny Ray Eldridge. The Rev. Greg Lichi officiated at the double-ring nuptials. Bobby Crum was soloist.

Engagement: Barber-Johnston
Donald and Maureen Barber, St. Augustine, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Erin Marie, to Jeffrey Ryan Johnston, son of Fred and Sue Johnston, Jacksonville.

Wedding: Quick-Beter
DeAnna Lynn Quick and Dale Eric Beter exchanged wedding vows during a 1 p.m. double-ring ceremony performed Feb. 7 in the gardens of the Oldest House by Betty Crosby, notary.

Engagement: Miller-Martin
Arn and Loretta Miller, St. Augustine, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Anna Alicia, to Edward Anthony Martin, son of Antonio Martin, Madrid, and Judy Martin, St. Augustine.

Pets of the week
There are actually two cats this week spotlighted at the St. Augustine Humane Society, Old Moultrie Road -- Sir Isaac and Gypsy.

U.S. infant mortality rate rises
ATLANTA -- U.S. infant mortality has climbed for the first time in more than four decades, in part because older women are putting off motherhood and then having multiple babies via fertility drugs, the government said Wednesday.

Portable phone is a real joy
I have a new phone. That may not seem like a startling acquisition, but anyone who knows me is aware that I am adverse to acquiring any new gadgets.

Social Security Q&A
Q: I get widow's benefits. My neighbor gets her own Social Security retirement benefit, although she's over 70 and still working full time. I get a cost-of-living increase every year. But my neighbor insists she gets two Social Security raises every year, one in January and another later in the year. Why does she get two increases and I get just one?

Grace Nelson to be keynote speaker at gathering
Grace Nelson, wife of United States Sen. Bill Nelson, will deliver the keynote address at the March 23 Enterprising Women's Leader ship Institute (EWLI) International Women's Day dinner at the Casa Monica Hotel.

COA menu
The following is the menu for the St. Johns County Council on Aging for the week of Feb. 16-20.

Book mobile schedule
The following is the schedule for the St. Johns County Public Library System's book mobile for the week of Feb. 16:

Speaker shares diary excerpts from daughter who died at Columbine
More than 200 people gathered at Flagler College earlier this month to hear a talk by Darrell Scott, founder of Rachel's Challenge, a non-profit motivational organization. Scott's talk focused on his daughter Rachel Joy, 17, a shooting victim at Columbine High School, and the young girl's sacrifices and diaries.

Senior notebook
The AARP 55 Alive/Mature Driving course will be offered Thursday and Friday the course will be taught at Coquina Crossing from 1 to 5 p.m. Call 829-8622 for reservations and information.

Best bets
St. Augustine Youth Services will celebrate its 15th anniversary of assisting young people in the community, Feb. 26 at The Pointe Restaurant.

Column: Formidable birthday is fast approaching
(Frances-Elizabeth Signorelli's Lightning column features interesting personalities - some real, some imaginary - in historic St. Augustine. Her column is featured the second and fourth Saturday of each month.)

Column of the day: Daytime dial
ALL MY CHILDREN: An icy calm Erica confronted Jack about his failure to tell her about Bianca's pregnancy. Later, Erica took off her engagement ring.

Meeks-Mixon engagement party
MORE THAN 60 GUESTS mingled and sipped cocktails in the brick home of Linda and Rick Whittington in Governor's Plantation recently.

Professor to share her experiences in Bosnia
With the world's attention focused on hotspots like Afghanistan and Iraq, many have forgotten about the destruction and ongoing rebuilding in war-torn Bosnia. But Flagler College associate professor of philosophy Ellen Klein saw first-hand the continuing struggles of this Eastern European nation in 2003.

Martinis are main event
THE SANMAR GALLERY on historic Charlotte Street was the scene of a two-night avant-garde opening featuring the painting of California artist Michael Godard, and nearly 1,500 people attended each evening.

Betty Griffin House celebrates Mardi Gras
THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort was the venue for a colorful Mardi Gras celebration recently, sponsored by the Board of Directors of the Betty Griffin House.

In service
Coast Guard Seaman Recruit Michael R. Smith, son of Mary M. and Joseph J. Smith of St. Augustine recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J.

Art and Wine Classic benefits First Tee
FINE ART AND FINE WINE frequently complement each other, and that was the case at the Lightner Museum recently with about 180 people gathered for a First Tee of St. Johns County fund-raiser.

Step up Florida! is Saturday
Step up Florida! a non-competitive physical activity with the goal of increasing physical activity among Floridians will be hosted here Saturday by the St. Johns County Health Department.

Volunteer spotlight
Cathy Brown, volunteer director, knows of several areas in the community which need volunteers. For information, contact Brown at 827-1917. E-mail address is ckbrown@aug.com.

Crescent Beach man's regiment involved in 'Rescue at Dawn'
"Rescue at Dawn: The Los Banos Raid" airs at 8 p.m. today on the History Channel.
This is the story of more than 2,000 prisoners of war held in February 1945 at what was described as one of the brutal Japanese prison camps, Los Banos.

Project Linus day is Feb. 21
Community members with some sewing skills or even just an urge to help are invited to contribute to the annual Make a Blanket Day, the first in St. Johns County and the fifth in the nation.

People: Bullock wins Harvard's Hasty Pudding award
Sandra Bullock had to show off her dating skills Thursday to earn a shiny brass pudding pot and the title of Harvard's Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year in Cambridge, Mass., reports The Associated Press.

National music theater competition begins
The National Society of Arts and Letters announces the 2004 music theater competition. National first place is $10,000. The North Florida Chapter honors include $1,000, $600 and $400.

Scholarships funds are available from many sources
The St. Augustine Lions Club is offering three $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in St. Johns County high schools who wish to further their education. Applications are available through the guidance counselor of each high school.

Briefly
Victor Jaworski, St. Augustine, has been named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.

Really friendly fire
Have you ever woken in the morning and thought: "Gee, I wish they'd develop a gun into a device that can save lives!"

Your Gardening Q&A
Q. This year, for the first time, something is making holes in my grapefruits and then hollowing out the contents. What can I do to prevent this?

Finding a piece of Paradise
Teresa and Robert Mathis may well have found paradise. Off U.S. One South, adjacent to tranquil Pellicer Creek in the southern most part of St. Johns County is their four acre plot -- part of a 55-acre parcel of pristine land.

Dr. Donohue: It's safe and relaxing to soak in a hot tub
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: We went to some expense to have a hot tub installed in our home. I find it relaxing. My wife, however, listens to a screwball friend who tells her that hot tubs are unhealthy. She's been reluctant to use it. If you would allay her fears, I would be deeply appreciative. -- R.T.

Dr. Donohue: The many ways to thaw a frozen shoulder
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My daughter-in-law has what her doctor calls a frozen shoulder. She fell on it, and she ended up with the frozen shoulder. It is quite painful. Should she keep it still or exercise it? -- E.H.

Love at first sight: The Kelloggs
It was December 1972. I was in my last year of college in Connecticut and was home for the Christmas holidays. Several weeks before, I had joined a different church than I had grown up in.

Police Report: Woman charged with battering man
A woman was arrested after a man reported she squeezed his groin, hit him on the head with a shaving cream can and made him bleed after biting his wrist, according to a report from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

For the Record
The annual Music for the Birds concert, a benefit for HAWKE -- Humane Association of Wildlife Care and Education -- begins at 6:30 p.m. today at the St. Johns County Agricultural Center.

Asphalt plant trying to reduce smoke, odors
Engineers, operations staff and attorneys at APAC asphalt plant have been speaking with officials at the Department of Environmental Protection twice a week to try to reduce the smoke and odor floating toward nearby homes, according to Jill Johnson.

Meetings & agendas
The Police Officers retirement Board will meet Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Police Department on King Street.

Love at first sight: The Hicks
Sharon Coffelt and I met in the spring of April 1975. Sharon was 11 years old and I was 14. We both lived on the same street, which is Whitecastle Road in St. Johns County. We both attended the community church (Whitecastle Baptist Church).

Sands of time
Billy Burney, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.L. Burney, celebrated his 7th birthday yesterday at a party given at the home of his parents, No. 144 Cordova St.

Police Report: Fugitive of the week
Crime details: According to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, around Nov. 1, Ritz engaged in sexual activity with a person between the ages of 12 and 16, a second degree felony.

Sculptor takes up shop here
Bill Rawls is hard at work in his studio on the Intracoastal, putting the finishing touches on a bronze sculpture of Cain and Abel that he's been commissioned to create for a couple in Palm Coast.

NASCAR dads
POOLER, Ga. -- Modified race cars slide sideways through the dirt track's final turn and streak down the straightaway before a crash sends sparks flying and brings a chorus of whooping fans to their feet.

Love at first sight: The Bakkes
I met my husband under unusual circumstances. Actually, let us go back to the beginning. You see, Ann Lunstead had been trying for a number of years to have my husband (Anders) and I finally meet, and she could never get us together; of course, I never knew she was trying.

John David Smith
John David "JD" Smith, 29, of Austin, passed a way Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004 in Austin, Texas.

Terrell Bruce Kidd
Terrell "Terry" Bruce Kidd, 56, of St. Augustine, died Feb. 9, 2004, at Bay View Health Care Center. He was a native of Cuthbert, Ga., and formerly of Eustis and Cocoa and Valdosta, Ga. He worked many years in the restaurant business. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Nell Lane Knapp
Nell Lane Knapp, of St. Augustine and Robinsville, N.C., died Friday, Feb. 13, 2004, at Flager Hospital. She was 88.

Elizabeth Mary Hines Hudson
Elizabeth Mary Hines Hudson, age 89, of St Augustine, died Feb.11, 2004 at Flagler Hospital. Longtime executive secretary to the President of Flagler College, Mrs. Hudson was born in Philadelphia and had resided in St. Augustine since 1963. She was a member of the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine.

Harris P. Kemp
Harris P. Kemp, 92, of Palatka, died Feb. 13, 2004, at Putnam Community Medical Center. He was a member of Grace Community Baptist Church and owned Kemps Dairy in Palatka for 27 years. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and loved horses and hound dogs.

Randy C. Werninck
Randy C. Werninck, 41, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 21, 2004, at his home. He was a native and lifelong resident of St. Augustine. He worked many years in sales for Werninck Lumber and was a member of the Church of Christ.

Fred John Balesh
Fred John Balesh, 85, of St. Augustine, died Feb. 12, 2004, at Flagler Hospital. He was a native of Chicago, Ill., and a resident of St. Augustine since 1983. He was a retired retail store owner and had worked at the St. Augustine Wal-Mart for the past 13 years. He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Lester Personeus
Funeral services for Col. Lester Personeus, Jr. (retired U.S. Air Force), who died February 1, 2004, at his home, will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at Craig Funeral Home Chapel.

Letter: Thanks to David Nolan
Editor: On a trolley tour of Lincolnville a number of years ago I first experienced the local treasure that is David Nolan. His extensive knowledge about, and great love for, the community and its residents was clear to me then.

Perspective: Working to save quality of life
St. Johns County is a very special place. It's special because it's unique, unique because of its history; because of its ocean coast line -- the entire east side of the county (over eight miles of which are ocean front public parks); because of its riverfront on the western part of the county; and because of the Intracoastal Waterway, which runs the entire length of the county.

Sunday editorial: Time to vote on the Guana school site
Last month, St. Johns County School Board member Carla Wright urged Superintendent of Schools Joseph Joyner to add an item to a regular board meeting agenda that would remove the Guana River Wildlife Management Area from consideration for a new high school.

Around the nation
President Bush's effort to defend the war in Iraq on NBC's "Meet the Press" wasn't persuasive. In numerous instances he fudged the facts.

Letter: Unsafe streets
Editor: I have just seen on TV that the little Florida girl in Sarasota was murdered, and I am furious and so worried for my grandchildren.

Letter: Wonder why?
Editor: I applaud the letter written to the editor, "The Ponce benefits the developer."

Perspective: Unintelligence
Even before David Kay's bombshell statement on the absence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the story of things gone wrong began to leak from fissures in the Bush administration's facade of self-righteous certainty.

Letter: Taking our country back
Editor: In response to the Feb. 8 "Guest Column" by Norma Sherry, I applaud her goal of energizing the populace to "become active participants in their democracy" and vote.

Letter: Thank you to Surfrider
Editor: Florida Trend magazine has listed Ponte Vedra Beach as one of the five worst beaches in Florida for public access.

Letter: The whole story
Editor: This letter is in response to the article on the front page of a recent paper regarding suggested improvements for areas along the Intracoastal Waterway that are located in St. Augustine South.

Bond set at $2,500 for top Miami recruit
FORT LAUDERDALE -- The Miami Hurricanes' top recruit bonded out of jail Friday afternoon, three days after surrendering to authorities for allegedly violating probation.

Singh's top 10 streak sacked: Vijay misses cut at Buick
SAN DIEGO -- Vijay Singh headed for the airport, not the practice range. Golf's hottest player saw his streak of consecutive top 10s come to an abrupt end at 12 tournaments Friday when he missed the cut at the Buick Invitational.

Truex wins first Busch Series pole
DAYTONA BEACH -- Martin Truex lived up to his billing Friday, starting his first full season in the Busch Series by winning the pole for the Hersey's Kisses 300 at Daytona International Speedway.

Avalanche pepper Red Wings; Flyers cruise
DETROIT -- Alex Tanguay scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and David Aebischer made 28 saves in the Colorado Avalanche's 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Daly poised for another comeback
SAN DIEGO -- John Daly is in the lead, and on the verge of another comeback.Thousands of fans lining the 18th fairway gasped and cheered when Daly launched a 2-iron over the water and right at the flag Saturday in the Buick Invitational.

Daytona security takes on presidential proportions
DAYTONA BEACH -- Catha Maultsby and company lined up two couches, a love seat and a reclining chair under their big blue tent and stared out at the raindrops pelting away at the fire they'd built in the grass.

A-Rod to Yankees almost a done deal
NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez was just a day or two away from joining the New York Yankees in a stunning trade that will surely rank as one of the biggest in baseball history.

Kenseth remains a mystery man
DAYTONA BEACH -- Television crews have gone to his hometown to talk with old friends, family and teachers. Reporters have quizzed members of the local fire department, where the No. 17 is painted on the roof, and anyone else who claims to know him.

Newman squeezes out IROC win
DAYTONA BEACH -- Ryan Newman found a way to squeeze past Kurt Busch 100 yards from the finish line and won the season-opener of the International Race of Champions Series on Friday night.

Minnesota shuts down Edmonton, 3-0
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Marc Chouinard scored for the first time in more than three months, and Dwayne Roloson earned his fourth shutout of the season to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night.

Bush leads trade mission to Central America
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- Gov. Jeb Bush left for Central America on Friday, where he will spend Valentine's Day with his wife Columba and then try to bring more business to Florida.

Officials seize illegal roses in Miami
MIAMI (AP) -- U.S. border authorities have seized thousands of roses imported from Colombia and Ecuador that were grown or distributed without royalties or other fees being paid on brands with trademarks, officials said.

Prison head resigns after teen's death
TALLAHASSEE -- The superintendent of a juvenile prison where a teen died because of alleged shoddy medical care resigned Friday as the state finishes an investigation into the death.

Jax school bus beating prompts cameras to be put on every bus
JACKSONVILLE -- Duval County's school superintendent said Friday he was outraged when he saw a video of seven students beating up another youngster on a school bus and pledged to put video cameras and recorders in each of the district's 1,000 buses.

Report: Smith approached woman in 1997
SARASOTA (AP) -- The man accused of kidnapping and killing an 11-year-old girl tried to lure a woman outside a grocery store in 1997 while he carried a knife and pepper spray, according to a police report.

Same-sex couples declined marriage applications
MIAMI -- A small number of gay couples throughout Florida tried unsuccessfully to obtain marriage license applications Friday, part of a nationwide push designed to raise awareness of same-sex unions.

Ex-trucker says FBI questioned him about ricin
A former mail trucker in Jacksonville, who maintains a Web site that has included accusations of corruption by the government and the trucking industry, says he has been questioned by FBI agents investigating three incidents in which the toxin ricin was sent through the mail.

Kidnap attempt thwarted by nurse
CALLAHAN (AP) -- A 15-year-old girl tried to kidnap a baby from a hospital, falsely claiming she was the newborn's mother, authorities said.